It was first published in 1987 with a Revised 1996 Edition published nine years later. This edition had the same cover art as the first. It was reissued in 2003 as Technical Readout: 3026 Revised and eventually supplanted by (and merged into) the more comprehensive Technical Readout: 3039.

The German version of this book was named Hardware-Handbuch 3031. Published by German licensee FanPro, it was expanded over the original english product to include five additional BattleMech designs complete with Technical Readout-style fluff, combat histories, and notable pilots:

Cataphract - Also taken from the House Liao (The Capellan Confederation) sourcebook, with an original writeup that was not translated or published anywhere else. Combat History centers on the exploits of Notable Pilot Kalidas Aniro of WH Kamata in the fighting against Andurien forces under Jimmy Lee on Betelgeuse.